Automatic flushing device for commodes

ABSTRACT

AN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY FLUSHING TOILET COMMODES HAVING A SOLENOID AND ASSOCIATED LINKAGE THAT IS ACTUATED BY A CONTROL ELECTRIC CELL OR OTHER SWITCHING DEVICES.

Feb. 2, 1971 H. w. JOHNSON 3,559,217

I AUTOMATIC FLUSHING DEVICE FOR COMMODES FiledDec'. 16, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVliN'I'U/Q.

r alafmson Feb. 2,1971 w JOHNSON 3,559,217

AUTOMATIC FLUSHING DEVICE FOR COMMODES Filed Dec. 16, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VliN T OR.

Fij] Howard Websfer Johnson United States Patent M AUTOMATIC FLUSHlNG DEVICE FOR COMMODES Howard Webster Johnson, 56195 East Ave., Mishawaka, Ind. 46544 Filed Dec. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 783,829

Int. Cl. E0311 /00 US. Cl. 4-67 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for automatically flushing toilet commodes having a solenoid and associated linkage that is actuated by a control electric cell or other switching devices.

This invention relates to commode flushing mechanisms, and more particularly to an automatic flushing mechanism for commodes.

It is therefore the main purpose of this invention to provide an automatic flushing device for commodes which will consist of solenoid means with a shock damping spring arrangement which by automatic switch means will flush the commode.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic flushing device which will improve sanitary conditions, particularly for the owner of restrooms. This invention effectively flushes the commode and is particularly useful in public places.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automatic flushing device which can be used without affecting the present manual mechanisms of the present toilet commode designs.

Other objects of this invention are to provide an auto matic flushing device for commodes which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and eflicient in operation.

These and other objects will become readily evident upon a study of the following specification together with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the present invention shown in elevation and partly broken away;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the placement of the device in the water chest;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the top mounting plate showing the screw clamp;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the adapter member for use in toilets of different designs;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the hook and rod shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. '8 is an end view of FIG. 7.

An automatic flushing device 10 is shown to include a rectangular configurated mounting plate 11 which is secured to water tank or chest 12. An electrically operated solenoid 13 is secured within a clamp 14 which is held to mounting plate 11 by suitable fasteners 15. The usual solenoid armature (not shown) mounts a pull-rod 16 which is received within coil spring 17 which acts as a shock damper for solenoid 13. Solenoid 13 also carries a pair of spring retainers 18 and a snap ring 19. Pull rod 16 is secured to and between bars 20 by means of pin 21. Bars 20 are free to slide between brackets .22 which are secured *by means of fasteners 23 to plate 11. A pair of links 24 are pivotally secured in any one of the plurality of openings 25 of bars 20 by means of a pivot pin 25'. A lift arm lever 26 is secured to links 24 and is pivoted to brackets 22 by means of pivot pin 26'. A manual flush rod 27 is fitted to device 10 in a manner which hereinafter 3,559,217 Patented Feb. 2., 1971 will be described. Device 10 is also provided with a tension and pull-back spring 28 which is secured to mounting plate 11 at one end and secured to one of the links 24 at its other end. The mechanism heretofore described is carried within the adjustable support 29 which has a floodage screw 30 for adjustment from the bottom of the water chest 12 to the mounting plate 11. The extension 31 fits into the hollow end of lift arm 2-6 and is secured by a cotter pin (not shown). The top mounting plate 11 and mounting bars 32 are provided with clamp screws 33 for securing device 10 within water chest 12.

In use, solenoid 13 when energized by a switch (not shown) which may be either manually or automatically operated, closes or draws to the left (FIG. 1) the bars 20 which in turn pivots the links 24 which are urged forward, i.e., pivoted counterclockwise ('FIG. 1). When this takes place, the lift arm 26 lifts upwards and thereby lifts the manual flushing rod 27 bearing on hooked end 34 thereof, whereupon flushing of the commode takes place. The lift arm extension 31 has a round shaft end, this end forming a hook 34 that cradles rod 27 from below. The hook 34 is deep enough so as to stay in place should manual flushing take place, and in no way will hinder manual operation should the electric power be off in apparatus having an automatically operative control switch. The top mounting plate 11 of device 10 is held in place by mounting bars 32 that are secured to the top plate and have clamp screws 33 which are covered with rubber tips 35 which will enable top plate mounting bar 32 to hold securely against the wall of the water tank 12.

It shall be noted that the hereinbefore described invention may be adapted to all makes of commodes that have the manual lever for flushing on the upper front lefthand corner of the water tank.

In FIG. 5 of the drawings, one will see a modified form of automatic flushing device 36 which is shown to include a vertically mounted solenoid assembly 37 having a pull-rod 38 which is pivotally secured by a transverse pin 39 to one end of the lever 40. Lever 40 is pivotable on a transverse pin 41 extending through bracket 42. The solenoid assembly 37 is mounted parallel with the overflow pipe 43. The coil spring 44 is carried within cups 45 and 46, the cup 45 being secured to the upper portion of one end of the lever 40 and cup 46 being secured fixedly beneath lever arm 47. A flush rod 48 is hookingly engaged within any one of a plurality of spaced apart openings 48' of lever arm 47 and an attached chain 49 is secured to the lower extremity of rod 48 at one end and is secured to the flush valve 50 at its other end. The other end of lever arm 47 is pivotally secured by transverse pin 51 through the hollow bracket 42.

A double support 52 supports solenoid assembly 37 against the outer periphery of overflow pipe 43 and support 52 is secured to clamp 53 which engages overflow pipe 43 and encompasses the lower extremity of solenoid assembly 37 in order to support device 36 within a Water tank (not shown).

It shall be noted that the overflow pipe 43 is also support for other tank components attached to clamp 53 and the solenoid assembly 37 can be moved to any desired location upon clamp 53.

When the solenoid assembly 37 is energized through a control switch (not shown) connected by means of the Water tight contacts 54, the pull-rod 38 is urged downwards against the spring 55 which acts as a shock absorber to prevent jerking of pull-rod 38. The energizing of solenoid 37 causes the left end of lever 40 to be pivoted upwards against the spring 44 which softly raises the left end of lever arm 47 about its pivot 51. When this is accomplished the valve 50 through its attached chain 49 and rod 48 will lift off the seat and flush the commode.

With hinge type valves, the adapter 56 is used by sliding it over the end of lever arm 47. Adapter 56 is secured to lever arm 47 by a cotter key (not shown) inserted through any one of the plurality of openings 48. A shaft end 57 of adapter 56 may be bent to form a hook that will hook under the manual flushing lever rod.

What I now claim is:

1. An automatic flushing device for a commode having a flush tank, a manually operable flush member and a valve, comprising a mounting member, a solenoid carried by said mounting member providing energizing means under control of a switch to flush the commode, a lever connected to said solenoid and to said flush member for unseating the valve within the tank, means carried by said mounting member for mounting said solenoid and lever within said tank, a coil spring carried by said solenoid providing shock damping means for said solenoid when energized, and spring return means carried by said mounting member and connected to said lever.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein a clamp is secured to said mounting member in selected position by releasable fasteners, and a mounting bar provided with clamping means is engageable with said tank to secure said mounting member to said tank.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said solenoid has an armature, a pull rod is carried by said armature, a coil spring encircles said pull rod, retaining means position said spring on said rod, a snap ring anchors said spring retaining means to said pull rod, said pull rod being connectedto said lever at a selected one of a plurality of positions, and a bracket secured to said mounting member and pivotally engaged by said lever.

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein said bracket is provided with screw attachment means, said solenoid armature being retractable by said solenoid to shift said pull rod and pivot said lever, said lever having a hook to cradle loosely the manual flush member of said commode, said spring providing return means for said lever and being secured to said mounting member at one end and to said lever at its otherend.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1968 Lake 4-67(A) 8/1969 Lefebvre et a1. 467 

